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WAR IN MEXICO? ^ 

Secret History. 



Plot exposed in Petition »^ 

to the President of tlie 
United States of America. 

g Free ^r^%$ d €.-? c.v> s e/ U^e,vAe. . 
Issued with Preface by 

"VERAX" 



Price 10 cents. 



Progressive Publishing Company 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 

U. S. A. 



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^■34 






PART I. 

This important document which we now place before the 
whole American public (by special permission of Judge Na- 
tions) needs no garnishing of rhetoric. Facts speak louder than 
argument. 

While the pro-German propaganda is doubtless responsible 
for a mass of mischief, there is no reason to beliave that the 
trouble in Mexico is of Teutonic making in the main. The reader 
may apply the principle cui hono (who reaps the benefit?) to 
this political embrogiio, and the question is amply answered in 
the following revelation. 

In any case the present world- war was preceded by mys-^ 
terious comings and goings between the court of Vienna and 
the Vatican, a circumstance noticed by Judge Nations in his 
'' Constitution or Pope." Further, we may recall, without at- 
taching too much weight to this coming together of the two 
would-be world-rulers, the visit of the Kaiser Wilhelm to the 
Roman Pontiff, when a dazzling vision was unfolded to the 
Ambitious Monarch of a World-Church and a World-State, which 
should give reality to the mediaeval dream of a Holy Roman 
Empire — ruled over by a modern greater-than-Charlemagne. 
The original Holy Roman Empire, we have been reminded by 



Lord Bryce, was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire. So 
why need its up-to-date counterpart be other than Hohenzollern 
and Teutonic — knig^htly after an inverse fashion? It was doubt- 
less dreaming this dream of taking the kingdoms of the world by 
force that at Jerusalem he donned the seamless robe, and de- 
clared "Ick unci Gott si)id vg)i eivigkeit/' Pity that the head of 
an otherwise, in some respects, great man should have been 
turned by the advisers to the Papacy, transforming thereby a 
possible alliance for world-peace (Mr. Chamberlain at Leicester, 
Nov. 30, 1899,) into premeditation of, and preparedness for, the 
greatest crime in History. 

Should the reader be incredulous as to the political activi- 
ties of the Papal Suria, we would refer him to {inter alia) Bo- 
man Catholicism a factor in European Politics by Mr. Cony- 
b^are, and guarantee that he will find food for serious thought. 
The political organization behind a religious belief, which boasts 
that it never changes, and whose motto is semper eadem, goes 
on steadily working for predominence, while unsuspecting citi- 
zens, lapped in a false security, prattle of civil and religious lib- 
erty, and play into the hands of those who are ever busy weav- 
ing the net. 

Portugal, France and Italy have, in a large measure, freed 
themselves from the toils; and the Philippines and Mexico 
would do the same, if fuU control were in the hands of those, 



who are opposed to the union of Church and State. But the 
American Government is to be made the catspaw forsooth of the 
Italian System to. pull the chestnuts, to keep the population in 
subjection to the priesthood, and consequently to retain them 
in their present state of ignorance and dependence, while an 
alien corporate institution is to be confirmed in its deadhand 
ownership of land and water. 

A pretty role this to be played by the land of freedom which 
is the heritage of the pilgrim fathers, the Quakers, the Baptists 
and Independents, and of all the waves of immigration that 
came westward to escape the tyranny of priests and kings! 

As this country will never, put her own neck under the foot of 
any sovereign poAver, be it that of potentate or Pontiff, she has 
no right to subject any other nation to the yoke, and would do 
well to aid both Mexico and the Philippines to work out their 
own salvation on lines at once Republican and Progressive, lib- 
eral and liberationist. 

A full prc^paredness is more than military and industrial, 
and must not lose sight of internal dangers. An all-round 
Americanism must stand for nationality in states— and in 
churches. The Teutonic hyphenate, to save his soul alive, is 
determined henceforth to do that which is lawful and right. 
So must it be in the case of the clerical hyphenate with liis 



divided allegisnee between a Eepublican President and a Sover- 
eign Pontiff. 

The los von Rom movement might have saved Anstria — 
but it was strangled. What becam^e of the h?althy movement to- 
ward an Americanism of the same enlightened order, which 
mysteriously vanished some years ago? 

If the "Pentecost of Calamity" that has devastated Europe 
is not to sweep Westw^ard, the causes that brought about that 
cataclysm must be removed from our midst. We are certainly 
sov/ing the wind, even as they did in Europe, who are now reap- 
ing the w^hirhvind. 



''VERAX." 



PART II. 

Honorable Woodrow Wilson, 
President of the United States: 

Your Excellency being charged as Chief Executive of the 
United States with the responsibility of enforcing the laws of 
the Nation, w^e deem it our duty to lay before you information 
which, if true, touches and concerns our country's welfare in a 
most vital and dangerous way. 

We are informed and believe that the Roman Catholic 
Hierarchy is now and has been for more than one year last past 
actively engaged within the territory of the United States 
fomenting ad inciting revolution in the Republic of Mexico, 
and attempting to bring about a state of war between the Re- 
public of Mexico and the United States of America. 

We ar3 informed and believe that the comspirators desire the 
intervention of the United States of America in the a fairs of 
the Repiihlic of Mexico in order that the Roman Catholic Church 
may regain the political and civil power in said Republic of 
Mexico from ichich it was driven hy the reform laws of the said 
RepuMic. 

We are informed and believe that secret meetings of these 
conspirators have been held in variou,> cities of the United States. 



to-Avit: New York, Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, D. C; 
San Antonio, Texas ; and New Orleans, Louisiana. 

We are informed and believe that Archbishop Jose Maria 
Moray del Eio of Mexico City and Bishop Castellanos of the 
State of Campeche of the Republic of Mexico have been put for- 
ward by the Hierarchy as the ostensible leaders of these plotters 
against the peace and tranc[iiility of the United States of Amer- 
ica and the Republic of Mexico. 

We are infcrmed and believe that these two men had a con- 
ference in the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, with Cardinal 
James Gibbons of Baltimore, Maryland, and that within a few 
days thereafter at the heme of Enrique Fernandes Castello, St. 
Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana, an organization was 
formed known as "The Mexican Peace Assembly Movement," 
with branches in 'Los Angeles and San Diego, California; 
Albuquerque and Columbus, New Moxico ; Nogales and Phoenix, 
Arizona ; El Paso, Laredo, Brownsville, Galveston and San An- 
tonio, Texas ; New Orleans, Louisiana ; Mobile, Alabama ; Tampa, 
Florida ; Washington, D. C. ; New York City and Baltimore, 
Maryland. 

AYe are infcrmed and believe that these branches were es- 
tablished and men named to be in charge of each; that Fer- 
nandiz Somellera was named to be in charge of the movement 
in New York City ; Ismael Zuniga was appointed to Washington ; 



and Federico Camboa was given charge over the branches in 
New Orleans and San Antonio, Texas. 

We are informed and believe that The Mexican Peace As- 
sembly Movement hereinbefore referred to had, at the time of 
its organization, twenty thousand armed, organized and offi- 
cered men in bands- of from eight hundred to two thousand, con- 
sisting of both cavalry and infantry; that these forces were 
located in various parts of the Repuhlic of Mexico ready to par- 
ticipate in the Revolution the moment the Hierarchy gave the 
ivord; that these bands, at the direction of the conspirators, are 
new engaged in revolt against the Government of Mexico, 

We are informed and believe that after the meeting herein- 
before referred to, where it is claimed the Mexican Peace As- 
sembly Movement was organized, fifty-one men, whose names are 
in cur possesion, met in the City of New^ Orleans, and signed a 
petition addressed to General Felix Diaz, Hotel Aberdeen, New 
York City, urging him to head a counter revolution in the Re- 
public of Mexico, and promising among other things, the follow- 
ing : ' ' Behind you we will put all the resources of those parties 
with which we are united." 

We are informed and believe that after this petition was 
sent to General Felix Diaz, he went to the City of New Orleans 
and there conferred with the conspirators who signed the peti- 
tion to him, and on Febuary 16, 1916, the said General Felix 
Diaz, left the City of New Cleans and went to Tampa, Florida, 



10 

after conferring with the conspirators afcrementioned, secretly 
going thence by boat to Tierra, Colorado, State of Vera Crnz, in 
the Republic of ^Mexico, and there started the revolution which 
had been planned against President Carranza. 

We are informed and believe that Francisco Beltram, Jr., 
was sent twice from the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, to Agua 
Prieta, Republic of Mexico, since January- 1st, 1916, to confer 
■ with Francisco Villa, ihe unspeakable tandit and murdererd, in 
an effort to induce said Francisco Villa, to commit such acts of 
\'iolence against citizens of the United States of America as would 
compel intervention by the United States; and we sincerely be- 
lieie that the raid hy Francisco Villa and his mudcrous hand on 
'.nihus, New Mexico, ivas the outcome of conferences which 
said Francisco Beltram, Jr., had with the said YUla. 

We are informed and believe that the revolutionary plot- 
ters have deliberately set out to plunge this nation into ivar with 

the Bepahlic of Mexico hy arousing enmity between the peo- 
ples of the sister Be publics, and to this end have had their agents 
and representatives along the border between the United States 
and Mexico to invent and send cut to the people of the United 
States deliberate and wilful lies in regard to facts transpiring 
across the border in the Republic of Mexico and also to send false 
and lying statements into the Republic of Mexico as to what was 
taking place amcng the people of the United States of America. 



11 

Your petitioners are father informed and believe that Car- 
dinal James Gibbons, hereinbefore referred to, lately sent James 
Selvin, of the University of Santa Barbara, California, as his 
representative to the Pope of Rome; that said Selvin's mission 
is to inform Pope Benedict of the progress that has been made 
by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in r establishing the power of 
the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in the Republic of Mexico, and 
to receive from the Pope such aid and counsel in regard to said 
matters as he may be able and disposed to give. 

We are informed and believe that the said Archbishop 
Mora, herinbefore named, has taken up his residence for the 
time beiijg at San Antonio, Texas, and from the city is engaged 
in directing the various activitives of the plotters against the 
peace of this Republic and that of Mexico. 

We are informed and believe that the said Bishop Castel- 
lanos of Campeche now has his headquarters in the City of New 
Orleans, Louisiana, where his duties are to secure funds and to 
look after the secret work of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in 
the new revolution. 

Your petitioners respectfully represent and show that if 
such a conspiracy against the people of the United States of 
America and of the Republic of Mexico exists, as herein men- 
tioned, all those guilty of such conspiracy are liable to punish- 



12 

ment for ^-iolation of Section 13 of the Criminal Code of the 
United States, which reads as follows : 

•'Section 13. Whoever, within the territory or jurisdiction 
of the United States, begins, or sets on foot, or provides 
or prepares the means for, any military expedition or enterprise. 

to be carried on from thence against the territory or dominions of 
any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people, 
with whom the United States are at peace, shall be fined not more 
than three thousand dollars and imprisoned not more than thre-e 
yeai*s. ' ' 

We are informed and believe that the fact that the Republic 
of Mexico has been drenched with the blood of its people in on*- 
revolution after another for several years last past is due almost 

entriely to the plots and intrigues of the Roman Catholic Hin- 
archy hi the attempt to reinsteite the Roman Ceitholk Church in 
civil and politi<:cd power in said Rk public : and your petitioners 
respectfully represent that it will be a monstrous crime for this 
powerful Christian nation to allow itself to be driven into the 
slaughter of the iimocent people of Mexico who desire only peact- 

and friendship with us. 

WHEREFORE, your petitioners pray that an immediate, 
impartial and searching investigation be made to ascertain the 
truth of all matters herein referred to. and that if it b? found 



13 

that such a conspiracy exists, that all who are guilty thereof be 
promptly and vigorously prosecuted regardless of rank or 
station. 



THE FREE PRESS DEFENSE LEAGUE, 
By GILBERT 0. NATIONS, 

V ice -F resident and Director of its 

United States Capital Bureau. 



My Dear Sir: ^ 

Please find inclosed herein copy of petition wliich I have filed 
with the President of the United States. 

This copy is handed to you in the hope that you will render 
to the President all possible assistance in making the investiga- 
tion which we ask. If the facts alleged in this petition are true 
they involve our country in dangers and obligations that are ex- 
tremely grave, and every patriot in this exigency should actively 
protect the peace and welfare of the nation. 

Trusting in your wisdom and patriotism, I am. 

Very sincerely yours, 
G. 0. NATIONS. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




015 991 132 9 # 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




015 991 132 9 



